GitHub Actions

The exam is 100 minutes long and consists of 60 scored multiple-choice questions plus approximately 10–15 pretest items that do not count toward your score. It is a closed-book assessment delivered through Pearson VUE under proctored conditions, either at a test center or via online proctoring. Online proctoring requires secure browser software and a stable internet connection.

The exam fee is $99 USD, though regional pricing may apply and vary by country. Verified students in the GitHub Student Developer Pack can receive a one-time complimentary voucher through the DataCamp offer, but that voucher may be applied only toward the GitHub Copilot or GitHub Foundations exam, not the GitHub Actions exam.

Yes. There is a 24-hour hold before your first retake. After that, a 14-day hold applies for each consecutive retake. You may retake the exam for a total of 5 attempts per year. Plan your study time accordingly so you do not exhaust attempts prematurely.

GitHub positions the exam at intermediate level for professionals with hands-on experience in workflow creation, automation, and CI/CD pipeline management. Difficulty depends on your practical exposure. If you lack real-world experience, build sample workflows and pipelines before attempting the exam, and review the skills measured on the certification page.

Start by reviewing the "skills measured" section on the GitHub Actions certification page. Then use GitHub's self-paced, browser-based training on Microsoft Learn, following the relevant learning paths. Consult the study guide and the learning content page for additional materials. Practice assessments are coming soon, so hands-on workflow building is your best supplement.

Candidates often underestimate the breadth of CI/CD pipeline management or rely only on reading without hands-on practice. Since the exam is closed-book and proctored, memorizing without understanding workflow syntax and automation concepts can lead to failure. Focus on practical scenarios and ensure you can apply concepts, not just recall them.

The GitHub Actions exam is offered in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, and Japanese. If the exam is not available in your native language, you may request additional time through Pearson VUE's English as a Second Language (ESL) process, but extra time is provided only when the exam is not offered in your native language.

GitHub certifications are generally valid for 2 years. GitHub is transitioning to Microsoft's recertification process; once in place, you will be able to renew through an unproctored assessment on Microsoft Learn instead of retaking the full proctored exam. Certifications that expire before the new process is available will be extended by 6 months. If your certification has already expired, contact [email protected] for a free retake voucher.

Certifications earned through Pearson VUE on or after July 1, 2025 appear in your Microsoft Learn profile. Certifications earned through PSI before July 1, 2025 remain visible in your GitHub Learn profile. Starting July 1, 2025, GitHub no longer issues new Credly badges; instead, you receive a downloadable Microsoft Learn certificate.